Trumbull man pleads guilty in Bridgeport corruption

Published 1:00 am, Friday, June 2, 2006

BRIDGEPORT (AP)- A Trumbull businessman has admitted paying an $8,000 bribe to a Bridgeport city official, the latest chapter in the ongoing federal investigation into corruption in the city.

"I'd love to be telling you that our investigation of public corruption in Bridgeport is over," U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor said Thursday. "Instead, I'm saying that day is not arriving any time soon."

Hancock's work involved removing asbestos from buildings being demolished to make way for a new elementary school.

Hancock made his plea during an appearance in U.S. District Court Thursday. During the hour-long proceeding, the lawyers and Hancock were careful to refer to the bribe taker only as a "city official."

Court documents identify the employee as being in a position "permitting him to supervise construction projects for the city of Bridgeport, including participating in the hiring of firms to perform construction-related services monitoring a firm's performance of the contract and reviewing and approving change work orders."

The bribery by Hancock took place just six months after a federal jury convicted former Mayor Joseph P. Ganim on 16 federal corruption charges, including bribery, extortion and racketeering conspiracy. The former mayor is serving a nine-year sentence at a federal prison camp in New Jersey.

Former Bridgeport State Senator Ernest E. Newton in April began a five-year term for taking a $5,000 bribe, stealing campaign funds for his personal use and filing false tax returns.